You know how when you live somewhere, the local attractions become more of a talking point for your friends and family that may visit rather than being someplace you visit on your own? Well when you live in a place as beautiful as Duluth, MN, that may not be the case! The top attractions in Duluth Minnesota may be the same for both locals and tourists alike.
As a life-long Wisconsin resident, I have lived in nearly every corner of the state and in-between. This means that the 7 years I spent living in Superior put me right on the Minnesota border, and right across the Saint Louis River from Duluth, MN.
It also meant that I got to experience so many things that residents of the Twin Ports area hold dear. Of course, a lot has changed in 7 years, so going back for a visit meant that I could not only take my kids to see places that I used to love to frequent, but we could all experience a few new things together!
Top Attractions in Duluth Minnesota for Family Fun
The Lakewalk
Locals know that the Lakewalk is a beautiful place for a quick walk, rollerblading, biking, or simply someplace to go and enjoy the beauty of the water crashing up against the rocks. When we lived in the area, my husband and I would frequent The Lakewalk path quite often for a walk or to rollerblade, but we had never taken our bikes down the trail.
On our most recent visit, we thought it would be great to take the kids down to the beach along The Lakewalk, so we utilized the Wheel-o-Fun bike rental service.
I have to say, this is one thing that is a must-do if you are in the Canal Park area of Duluth because we had so much fun pedaling along the trail and watching the waves crash against the rocks.
There are fun things along the path as well that the kids found interesting, like the little house made out of driftwood, the building engulfed by water, the amphitheater along the path, and so much more!
Spirit Mountain Coasters
Spirit Mountain Coasters is newer to the Duluth area. When I lived there this was not available, but I can tell you that if it was I would have visited it quite frequently!
The brochure states, “Feel the exhilaration as you race down 3,200 feet of twists & turns on the Midwest’s only Alpine Coaster! Unlike an alpine slide, the coaster makes hairpin turns and is elevated off the ground like a rollercoaster. The rider is in control of their speed (up to 26mph!), for a truly unique, hands-on experience.”
I can tell you first hand, the exhilaration is for real! You really zip down the hill, and those turns are not for the faint of heart! My favorite moment, though, is when you burst through the tops of the trees and get but a brief view of the entire landscape, including a bit of Lake Superior way off in the distance.
Smaller children do need to ride with an adult, but my kids (ages 9, 6, and 2) all enjoyed riding with us at full speed! There were a few corners where your heart definitely starts racing as you whip around the turns, however, it is an experience you do not want to miss. Even my youngest was begging to go again.
Additional attractions are available at the Spirit Mountain Adventure Park and include a zip line, a chair lift ride, a mountain bike park, disc golf, mini golf, and in the winter you can go snow tubing.
Great Lakes Aquarium
The one place we always love to go when we visit Duluth is the Great Lakes Aquarium. This aquarium is a freshwater aquarium that features many of the local fish that you would find in Lake Superior and other fresh bodies of water. There are some tanks that are labeled “exotic” and feature saltwater animals as well, but the bulk of the experience is to highlight local fish, the local area, and to provide a fun learning environment.
So Much More to Duluth
There are so many more places to visit in Duluth, but we only had a few days to visit and couldn’t have possibly done everything. If you want to see more of the top attractions in Duluth Minnesota, like Glensheen Mansion, Train Rides, Brewery Tours, and so much more, head to VisitDuluth.com for more info.
Are you a local who loves the area, or perhaps someone who just loves to visit?
What are your top attractions in Duluth, Minnesota?
Thanks to Visit Duluth, The Great Lakes Aquarium, Wheel-O-Fun, and Spirit Mountain Adventure Park for helping us with a great family vacation. We were provided attraction tickets to help facilitate this post, opinions are my own.
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